Page 86 of Vicious Impulses (The Capo and Ballerina)

“You mean will I be returning you?” he asks, and I nod. “No. How many times do I have to make it clear,mia bella ballerina, that you are mine and mine alone?”

I breathe his name as he eases me around and takes my lips in a gentle, consolatory kiss. His lips are warm and welcoming and enough to make me forget any other thought on my mind. I follow his lead, reveling in the lash of his tongue and suckle of his lips. His fingers sweep across my cheeks and then scoop behind my ears. He holds my face and kisses me like a man keen on taking advantage of the moment.

I’m more than happy to let him.

By the time we break apart, I’m feeling like Caelian’s kisses have put me under his spell. He guides me to the huge bed, and we begin pulling back the covers and dimming the lights. We slide into place against each other with his bulging arms wrapping snugly around me and his lips pressed into the side of my neck.

“Buonanotte bellissima ballerina,” he whispers.

He’s asleep within minutes.

I should be too.

Instead, I’m wide awake. I’m left staring into the naked dark of our bedroom, wondering about the choices I’ve made. If I’ve done the right thing by handling Caelian’s questioning the way I have. If I’ve put him in more danger or betrayed Mom and Dad.

My gaze lands on the closet opening. Though it’s too dark to make out what’s inside, I stare at the dark mouth with the suffocating dread that the truth is only a few feet away. Everything Caelian and the Ziccardis and Nero and the Vorones have ever wanted.

In my possession and my possession alone.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Caelian

There aresome people who prefer to keep bad blood a secret. If they have animosity toward someone or a rivalry going, they’d rather pretend otherwise. They operate off passive aggression and furtive schemes that they hope will bring down their enemy.

I’m the opposite. Once it’s clear that I am on my own with Nero and the Vorones seeking what I have, and my family against my militant stance, it’s a relief. There’s no ambiguity to the situation, which allows me to move even more freely than I already was.

Any gray area is gone.

They areallmy enemies.

I act accordingly—my men keep tabs on Nero and the Vorones. We need to be abreast of any potential incursions he may be planning, so that we’ll be prepared.

Nero makes for a different kind of adversary than my clumsy family members. He won’t hire any D grade assassins to carry out the job, nor will he put his most incompetent men on it either. A megalomaniac obsessed with power like him would want to crush his opponent.

It’s how he’s maintained complete domination over Dresden. It’s how he and his father managed to cull the Ziccardi family for years now.

I’ve made it clear I won’t be cooperating with his demands. Therefore, I’m his target in need of destruction.

“Nothing as far as I can tell, C,” Matteo reports. He gives a shrug before shoving his hands in his pockets. “It seems like they’re moving like they usually do.”

“And you’ve had guys on the street keeping their ears open?”

He nods. “Nothing. Not a word about any kind of move being made against you.”

“Interesting. I’m not so sure I buy there’s nothing in the works.” I stroke my jaw, staring absently around the room of my command center. “He must be keeping it under wraps.”

“Our turncoat—you know the guy we’ve got at Vecoli—swears he’s heard nothing, and you know Nero eats there four, five times a week. It’s possible he’s lulling you into a false sense of security. If I was Nero, and I was gonna try something, I’d wait a while. For you to forget about it.”

I grunt out a laugh. “I’ll never forget about it. He’s made it clear where he stands. If I won’t give up Nevaeh, then he’ll make an attempt to take her by force.”

“If I may, C,” Matteo says, frowning and scratching his head. “Ever consider just… cutting a deal with him? He seems to want the ballerina real bad. You could probably nickel and dime him for a big payout.”

One look of mine is all it takes.

He’s barely finished his stupid train of thought before he’s cringing and backing down. Redness creeps up his neck and reaches his ears. He holds up both hands to show he means no offense.

“Or not,” he quickly says. “Just a suggestion. I know you… uh, you like the girl.”